Hello Spring! Hello Garden!

With the weather getting a little nicer,

the sun shining a little warmer and longer

and the rain taking the odd break from falling onto Ireland, 

the gardening season starts again.

And we LOVE working in our garden.

Today, my favourite husband picked up a tiller

at Tullamore Tool Hire

to save a few days time digging over the MAHOOOSIVE potato plot. 

 Boys and their toys. 

A little while ago, my mum and I have sowed peas

and today, Alfie and I discovered some tiny baby pea plants

growing happily in the sheep poop in one of the raised beds. 

How exciting!

Also the herb garden looks quite well.

The lemon balm,...

...thyme...

...and leafy chives are already growing again.

But we've managed to kill the oregano, rosemary and lovage.

We also discovered baby beetroot plants...

baby butterhead lettuce,...

and baby spinach.

The lion's tooth didn't fail to impress!

And our hens! The non-stop cackling in the chicken run!

Cackling hens make me SO HAPPY! 

My mum had planted some spring flowers 

into some of our gazillion flower pots

and arranged them at our front door.

Look at the colours!

And even the babies in our tiny indoor nursery 

are springing up like mad

to catch some of that very rare springtime light!

Like this apple tree...

... as well as these sunflower, lovage and mint seedlings.

They will have to move out, soon. 

Finally, the gardening season is back. 

The winter was really, really long and we can't wait

to work on a few new garden projects we have in mind for this summer.

Enjoy the sun!

Plant a few primroses,

sow some summer flower seeds

or keep a few little pots with herbs on your kitchen windowsill!

Happy gardening, everyone!

Sunday, 28th Feb 2016

 

 We've started our Sunday with a baking session and made fluffy, buttery,

 croissant-like breakfast rolls.

 

 

They turned out great!

Really yum!

 

 

After a long breakfast feast,

we all got dressed and went outside

to get to know the new garden a bit better

and to do some outdoor spring cleaning.

 

 

We all got a bit hungry around lunch time,

so we had some defrosted apple crumble cake

and hot chocolate.

 

 

We ignored the mess in the kitchen and went outside again.

 

 

We found the first spring flowers and the garden toys

which hadn't been unpacked yet.

 

 

 

 

Alfie got bored of the garden after a while

and wanted to go for a walk in the field behind the house.

 

 

 

I started cutting the lawns after our little walk until it got too dark and cold.

 

 

 

Gerd bathed the kids while I tidied up the kitchen

and cooked a prawn curry.

 

And made a fancy dessert.

From a pack.

With whipped cream.

From a can.

 

 

Ta-daa!

 

I cleaned up the kitchen

and gift-wrapped this T-Shirt

I made for a friends' boy's 1st birthday.

 

 

The kids sleep

and Gerd and I spend the rest of the evening

together on the couch

before a new, busy week begins in the morning.

 

 

I hope your Sunday was as nice as ours!

 

Lena

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Sunday in Stradbally

 

On Sunday we received some weird news

which could have kept us busy thinking and talking

about things we can't change anyway.

So instead of going through all whys and what-ifs again and again,

we packed a little picnic and some spare clothes,

jumped into the car and drove to Stradbally

to visit the Steam Museum.

I did not check for opening hours beforehand,

as I presumed, sure, on a summer Sunday,

they would be open.

 

They weren't.

 

So we took a little stroll through the village.

It's a lovely place and not half as grey-coloured

as my photos look like.

 

 

 

We visited St. Patrick's church...

 

 

 

...and lit a few candles.

Something we try to do every time we find a church.

We go inside and light candles for our grandparents

and parents who have already passed away

as well as for our families and friends

to pray for their health, happiness and luck.

It's always nice to be quiet for a little while,

take a quick break from the often so loud and hectic life

and think of the people we love.

 

 

A few steps further down the road,

we passed this building,

an old Grain Drying Kiln,

and took a cheeky little look around

We were wondering what people are living in this house now

as it is a really inspiring place,

refurbished with attention to detail

and some quirky artwork.

 

Can you see the tractor seats?

 

 

 

I love these fancy garden furniture!

 



 

And this iron gate.

 

How lucky these people are

who live here!

 

 

Some more photos taken on the main road...

 

 

Stradbally Market Square.

 

 

After we found this old food mill...

 

 

 

 

 

...we popped into a small shop and bought ice cream.

 

 

 

 

 

Some doors...

 

 

 And a fun guessing game for the postman. :-)

 

 

 

But the highlight of the day

was the local playground.

 

Wow!

We spent HOURS there.

 

It is so well done!

The kids couldn't get enough.

 

There are things for bigger kids...

 

...and smallies.

 

There are some fitness yokes, even.

To entertain the whole family.

 

Well... some might actually use them

to get fitter.

On Sunday afternoon,

they've been exclusively used as toys, really.

 

 

 

I sat in the grass for a while

and Alfie improved his walking skills.

 

 

This was our favourite swing-thing.

Such FUN!

 

 

 

It was a nice day out.

Until Alfie got sick in the car on the way back.

And got sick again after I had just done some

damage limitation with thousands of baby wipes.

Ever tried that?

It doesn't really work.

 

But yes,

apart from that,

we enjoyed every minute in

STRADBALLY!

 

Lena